The Download: greenhouse gases, and how AI could affect inequality
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is used in high-voltage equipment on the grid. It’s also, somewhat inconveniently, a monster greenhouse gas.
Greenhouse gases are those that trap heat in the atmosphere. SF6 and other fluorinated gases can be thousands of times more powerful at warming the planet than carbon dioxide, and yet, because they tend to escape in relatively small amounts, we hardly ever talk about them.
Taken alone, their effects might be minor compared with those of carbon dioxide, but together, these gases add significantly to the challenge of addressing climate change.
Casey Crownhart, our senior climate reporter, has drawn up a quick cheat sheet on the most important greenhouse gases you need to know about. Check it out here.
This story is from The Spark, our weekly climate technology newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.
What will AI mean for economic inequality?
Prominent AI researchers expect the arrival of artificial general intelligence anywhere between “the next couple of years” and “possibly never.” At the same time, leading economists disagree about the potential impact of AI.
Some anticipate a future of perpetually accelerating productivity, while others project more modest gains. But most experts agree that technological advancement, however buoyant, is no guarantee that everyone benefits.
Ensuring that AI helps create a more inclusive future remains one of the least invested-in areas of AI governance. But paying attention to the factors that will influence the interplay between AI and inequality can help us make the idea that AI will benefit everyone into more than just a pipe dream. Read the full story.
—Katya Klinova
